Physical and Physicochemical Characteristics, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity of Cladodes from Erect Prickly Pear Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.

Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. is well adapted to arid and semiarid regions has great potential for industrialisation. One- four-year-old cladodes of this species harvested in Drâa-Tafilalet region the southeast Morocco, were characterised by examining physical physicochemical parameters. Their bioactive compounds antioxidant activity also investigated. The cladode age had a significant impact on all studied characteristics except some morphological Cladodes different ages have nutritional value comparable wide range vegetables, particularly terms calcium, potassium, betalain, total polyphenol, vitamin C contents. They are very rich calcium (37.8–42.5 g/kg dry matter (DM)) high betalain content. content phenolic (133.9–165.0 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g DM) especially noteworthy. These contain amounts C, one-year-old (8.1–18.5 GAE/100 DM). recorded flavonoid contents vary from 3.8 7.6 quercetin per 100 mL mash. Condensed tannin 10.9 21.8 µg/100 Chlorophyll carotenoid 5.55 23.76 1.9 6.0 mg/100 DM, respectively. two-year-old soluble solids (TSS) ash with titratable acidity (TTA), compared three- cladodes. Four-year-old highest TSS/TTA ratio, while wealthiest betalains dominance indicaxanthins (yellow pigments). oldest lowest inhibitory concentration (IC50) activity. Three-year-old traits significantly different, which may resulted physiological changes related their buds emission at age. This study highlights functional importance valorisation, agri-food pharmaceutical industries.